US sees Pak's role in Afghan reconciliation as "ambiguous and opaque"

Washington, July 16 (ANI): Apprehensive over Pakistan's policies concerning Afghanistan, the United States has described that country's role in the Afghan reconciliation process as "ambiguous and opaque".

Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, President Obama's Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke said Washington wants to know more about Islamabad's role in Afghan President Hamid Karzai's endeavour to bring peace in the war torn region.

"Pakistan's role in reconciliation is ambiguous and opaque at this point. It is something that we want to learn more about. Remember, we're talking about reconciliation in Afghanistan not Pakistan's own relationships," The Dawn quoted Holbrooke, as saying.

He also made it clear that the United States would never seek reconciliation with Al-Qaeda's ally- Haqqani network, which is believed to enjoy the backing of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Holbrooke's response to Senator Jeanne Shaheen's question indicated that the Obama administration does not approve of Pakistan's efforts to arrange a settlement between the Afghan government and the Haqqani network.

"I do not want to leave any on this committee with the impression that some of the news reports about recently fevered accounts of secret deals between elements in Pakistan and elements in the Taliban are accurate," he told the committee.

"We have no evidence whatsoever of the accuracy of those reports. But there is movement," Holbrooke added.

Later, Senator John Kerry, the committee's chairman, said that the US expects Pakistan to facilitate its efforts to end the nine year long war in Afghanistan.(ANI)